A bar renaissance in Honolulu is pushing revelers beyond mai tais and blue Hawaiʻis, unleashing a whole new world of innovative lounges and cool speakeasies.
An unexpected cocktail spot inside an Ala Moana grocery store houses a 91-bottle whiskey selection. A bamboo bar at a recently renovated hotel in Waikīkī puts its own whimsical spin on tiki drinks. Nearby, an elegant night of live jazz and classic cocktails awaits at a handsome mahogany-paneled lounge.
At these outstanding spots, you can sip on juleps, fine Italian wines, or even indulge in a jello shot, all while soaking in one-of-a-kind settings. Read on for a guide to Honolulu’s 12 best bars to visit right now.
EP Bar (Downtown Honolulu)
EP Bar is an intimate and sought-after setting for high balls, old fashioneds, and daily DJ sets pumped through audiophile-grade sound systems. In the dimly lit wood and lava rock interior, guests can choose from mostly Japanese and American whiskeys (bonus points for the mocktails, including the Bidi Bidi Bom Bom made with watermelon, green tea, mint, chile, lime, and soda) and light bites to go with, including a meat and cheese plate and beef jerky chips. Enjoy it all against a Hi-Fi ambience featuring shelves of vinyl and prominently displayed amps.
Heyday (Waikīkī)
Pool drinks are the name of the game at Heyday, a super hip bar at the recently renovated White Sands hotel. The cocktails, which include the fluffy pineapple Chaise Dreams, a mamaki-tea infused mai tai, and daiquiris, are best sipped on swings that double as bar seats—one of Heyday’s many distinguishing features, which also include a grotto enclave and a tiki-style bamboo bar. To all that, add a top-notch food menu steered by James Beard Award winner Robynne Maii (locally caught fish and chips, flatiron steak skewers) and you’ve got a quintessential Honolulu hangout.
Lewers Lounge (Waikīkī)
Step into the mahogany-paneled Lewers Lounge in the Halekulani Hotel for an elegant night of live jazz and classic cocktails. This sophisticated spot has a strict dress code—collars are required for men and no jeans or slippers are allowed. Choose from a distinguished drinks menu featuring vespers, elegant espresso martinis, smoked old fashioneds, and traditional absinthe service as you listen to some of the best pianists, jazz vocalists, and trios in the state.
The Lei Stand (Downtown Honolulu)
As one of Honolulu’s most historic pockets, Downtown has long been home to family-run lei stands that promoted the century-old Hawaiian tradition of placing garlands on people deboarding from nearby piers. Step through a side door past one such stand’s facade and you’ll find a bar that is far from a relic. Neon lights and thumping bass permeate the dark lounge. For fuel, there are juicy house drinks, such as the guava jelly-infused Rub Upon My Belly or the coconut fat-washed Coconut Wireless. The Lei Stand’s food is inspired by dishes found at local dives, featuring chicken karaage, misoyaki salmon, and patty melts—alongside a more refined selection called #luxuryshit, made up of uni waffles, caviar egg salad sandwiches, truffle Parmesan popcorn, and more.
House Without A Key (Waikīkī)
Look no further than House Without A Key’s sun-soaked lanai for what is arguably the world’s greatest mai tai. Here, the quintessential beach cocktail is made with three types of rum, poured over crushed ice, and garnished with a bouquet of orchid, lime, and sugarcane—all made sweeter against a backdrop of live Hawaiian slack key, hula dancing from former Miss Hawaiʻi-USA winners, and a magical beachside view of Diamond Head. Other tropical drinks are also available—think daiquiris, and Champagne cocktails—alongside fruity non-alcoholic selections. Graze on small plates including sushi rice cubes with spicy ahi if you’re just here for golden hour. But should drinks turn into dinner, choose from a heartier menu that includes brick-oven pizza, hibachi chicken breast, and steamed fresh red snapper.
Bar Leather Apron (Downtown Honolulu)
You’d never guess from the unassuming exterior of the Topa Financial Center, but perched in the lobby’s mezzanine level is one of North America’s 50 Best Bars. The acclaimed spot is cozy and full of rich woodworking and, of course, leather chairs. Opened in 2015 by Tom Park and bartender Justin Park, the bar has doled out cocktails inspired by Japanese bartending traditions with uniquely Hawaiian nuances. Must-orders include Park’s award-winning mai tai, served from a hand-carved Hawaiian tiki figure emanating smoke. The bar also stocks a thrilling selection of Japanese whisky, and Park’s highball lineup includes delicate options that play off of yuzu and strawberry. The result is an inimitable drinking experience–it’s no surprise the bar was nominated for a James Beard Award this year.
Stage Restaurant & Amuse Wine Bar (Honolulu)
Come for the ultra-modern Italian furniture—but stay for the wine. Amuse Bar is housed on the second floor of the glassy Honolulu Design Center, decked with a tech-heavy system sprawled throughout the bar area that lets you swipe a card at as many as 80 beeping and flashing gaskets that pour you a taste of from around the world, ranging from Napa cabs to French burgundies and more. Show up between 5 pm and 6 pm between Tuesdays and Saturdays for a daily happy hour selection of by-the-glass wine specials (a rotating selection of beer and cocktails are also available). Pair the sips with petite wine-friendly bites such as truffle fries, charcuterie and cheese plates, and sliders.
Hana Koa Brewery Co. (Honolulu)
Though you’ll spy Hana Koa Brewery Co. cans in local supermarkets, its bar is where you can fully immerse yourself in beer. The converted-warehouse haunt offers 16 taps that pour out suds made on site with selections that rotate weekly. Find flights, as expected, or tall frosty pints. All pair well with Hana Koa’s snacky menu, including spicy pork belly sliders, a beer-battered fish sandwich, plus a sizable ramen selection. If you want a stiffer drink, head upstairs to Hana Koa’s Mezzanine, a low-key craft cocktail bar with weekly specials and secret menus made by its creative bartending staff.
Eleven (Ala Moana)
Eleven may be practically built inside a Foodland, one of Hawai’i’s beloved locally-owned grocery stores, but this cocktail bar is anything but a freezer aisle. The drinks menu features many original riffs on modern classics, though the real draw is a 91-bottle whiskey selection that can be prepared one of a staggering 13 ways—as a sour, old fashioned, in julep form, or as a boulevardier, just to name a few. If you’re not imbibing, consider the Pineapple Slinger, made with a non-alcoholic gin, pineapple and lime juice, orgeat, hibiscus, and cherry syrup. Stretch your experience with enticing small plates including seasonal Pacific oysters, hamachi carpaccio, or roasted beets with spiced silken tofu.
Blind Ox (Honolulu)
Blind Ox is a casual-chic Prohibition-style speakeasy in Kapahulu. The bar serves classic cocktails with local twists against a backdrop of chandeliers, dark red booths, and stylish wallpaper. Grab seats at the roomy indoor bar areas with ample booths or grab a plush perch on one of the many outdoor sofas. Choose from drinks including Mr. Crack Seed (a whiskey sour with plum skin powder-infused bourbon) and the Bull & the Whip (a wagyu-infused twist on a Manhattan). For the peckish, there’s a tapas menu of scallops, bone marrow, and scotch quail eggs.
The Tchin Tchin Bar (Chinatown)
Tchin Tchin is a refreshing rooftop spot to catch some cool tradewinds amidst a trendy live plant wall, exposed red brick, and dangling string lights. The Chinatown arts district hotspot is ideal for pre- and post-dinner drinks, such as icy Moscow mules, a generous shot-and-beer selection, and a solid wine list offering plenty of by-the-glass options. If you’re craving an appetizer, choose from a globally inspired small plates selection that includes roast beef dip, truffle fries, plus a variety of tartines.
Smith’s Union Bar (Downtown)
Smith’s Union Bar is a Honolulu legend that traces its roots to 1935. Bathed in classic neon light, the dive keeps impressive hours (from 8 am to 2 am) and draws an eclectic crowd for cold beers, cheap drinks, jello shots, and nightly karaoke. The bar’s long and narrow space is lined with Navy memorabilia, paying homage to the many sailors who have hung out here over the years—one of the most famous patrons was the crew of the USS Arizona, the ship hit by two bombs during the Pearl Harbor attack. Today, Smith’s Union Bar is still a popular spot for locals and visitors and a crucial stop on any Honolulu bar crawl.
Tried them all? Check out other options here.
Noelle Chun is a freelance journalist who writes about food, cocktails, and wine in Honolulu and San Francisco. Follow her on Instagram at @noellechun.
